The governor on Friday proposed a new felony-level penalty for poaching, and revoking game-and-fish privileges for up to 10 years. Current law only goes up to a gross misdemeanor penalty for poaching, and license revocations of up to only five years.

The threshold for the tougher penalties would be what current law defines as gross over-limits. That means four or more deer; two or more trophy deer; 40 or more ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse or salmon; and 67 or more walleye or northern pike.

Dayton says in a statement that it's a response to recent incidents of wanton and wasteful poaching, including the killing of two bull elk in northwestern Minnesota this week.